Posted on 05/31/2012 11:05:18 AM PDT by Red Badger
A new kind of eyeglasses is now available from a British company that allows the wearer to adjust the prescription anytime, anywhere, via small thumb-dials on the sides. Called, Eyejusters, the glasses make use of a technology called a Slidelens, which very aptly describes how these glasses do their magic. Each lens is actually two lenses that have slightly different shapes; turning the thumb-dial causes one lens to move slightly left or right and that changes the focal point for the wearer. The lenses are moved until the person doing the focusing finds the sweet spot; which is exactly how users focus a pair of binoculars.
The web site for the Eyejusters says their main market is the developing world, where a lot of people with vision problems cant afford to see an eye doctor, much less the glasses that would be prescribed. Eyejusters solve both problems; when ordered, they come with an eye-chart that can be used to help discern if a persons vision can be corrected with Eyejusters (the power range is from +4.5 to 0 D (positive) and 0 to -5.0 D (negative)) and to figure out which version they need (for near or far vision correction).
The glasses were developed by four guys; Dave Crosby, Owen Reading, Richard Taylor and Greg Storey, who found a common interest in self-adjustable glasses and in the process created a company to fulfill the goal of providing low cost eyeglasses to the millions of people the world over who cannot afford a traditional pair. Their secondary market is for people who could use adjustable glasses for other than general use purposes, such as reading, working on a computer, knitting, i.e. for people as they get older and find they have trouble focusing while performing different tasks.
The Eyejusters, which come with detachable thumb-dials also come with a plastic case and special cleaning cloth. The cloth can be used to clean both sides of both lenses because the outer lens can be hinged down for easy access. The Eyejusters also offer UV protection, which has been incorporated to help prevent eye damage from the sun, another common problem in underdeveloped countries.
Another interesting aspect of the adjustable glasses is that it appears with a little tweaking, they could be used to perform self exams in more developed countries. By adding a digital display, the wearer could work out their own prescription and send it to a company that sells traditional eyeglasses, sidestepping an expensive trip to an ophthalmologist.
I buy my prescription glasses for $15 at Zenni.com.
We have a grocery around here that charges $1.47/pair for reading glasses. Not always a huge selection, and they don’t last forever... but sometimes they are on sale for $.99 a pair.
Wow, those are nice. But DANG, slide lenses in glasses is just one more thing that I invented in the past and never patented or worked on enough to patent or market!
They can work sliding up and down also, less range...
I don’t feel vindicated, just, who knows... Maybe I will kick myself in the rear on some other inventions now! Sigh...
Those things look like GI birth control glasses.
This could be a real boon to folks in poor countries.
Obviously, in more developed countries one should use a professional for all of the non-refracting aspects of eye health.
Remember, the knobs are removable, and I’m sure that the fashion industry will get their chance to improve the looks soon enough. Besides, the latest trendy look is kinda like old school teacher frames........................
He said as he sawed off his right foot with a chainsaw.........................
My brother in laws Dad worked on a project for the hearing aids. They work, and work very well. The doctors said it should not be on the market, and successfully blocked FDA approval, because it would mean people would not go get their ears checked. It would also cut into the profits of ear aid makers.
This technology has been around since the invention of cross-cylinders. Every few years some company tries to market them without much success. Same with pinhole glasses. You can get something similar here in the US: http://www.superfocus.com/
There are also some with adjustable liquid media. Some companies have gotten grants for dispensing adjustable spectacles to the indigent, but the effort always runs out of steam/money.
“GI birth control glasses”, they’ll make you so ugly, nobody will have sex with you!
I hated my trifocals, although I had “progressive” lenses. I could never get used to them, so I finally resorted to one pair for driving, one pair for close up reading, and I don’t need a pair for computer work.
I could easily get behind the idea of self adjusting glasses.
LOL, but I will say that my lasik surgery lasted 10 years. I love that part! :-)
Have an extra pair gathering dust?
What!
Lasik surgery lasted 10 years?.....that’s a long time to be on the operating table...............
The surgery itself was 10 years ago. The results lasted 10 years. :-D
He said as he sawed off his right foot exactly between the tibia and talus with a chainsaw.........................
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